Former PHS assistant football coach arrested for alleged sex abuse

A Paradise man was arrested in Paradise earlier this month for the alleged molestation of a girl under the age of 14.

William Robert Prinz, 28, was taken into custody on Jan. 2 without incident. According the Butte County Sheriff's log, the arrest occurred at 12:12 p.m., at his father's Paradise home.

The allegations were reported to the Butte County Sheriff's Office in December 2012 for an incident that occurred in Magalia.

BCSO spokeswoman Miranda Bowersox said authorities believe Prinz was involved in the Paradise High School football program as an assistant coach. Prinz is the son of Head Coach Rick Prinz and has coached with team since his graduation from high school in the early 2000s.

Paradise Unified School District Superintendent Roger Bylund said his office only knows what was printed in news reports and what was released by the sheriff's office.

"We're shocked and saddened and, of course, concerned for the victim and the family," Bylund said.

He said Prinz was a coach with the football team and was the freshman boys basketball coach before resigning in the fall.

"He is not currently an assistant coach or volunteer (with the district)," Bylund said.

The parents of the victim informed the sheriff's office about the alleged abuse, Bowersox said. Due to the victim's age, Bowersox was unable to comment on where the alleged victim was from, if she knew Prinz or if the abuse was one time or ongoing.

Prinz was booked into the Butte County Jail on three counts of lewd acts on a minor. His bail was set at $150,000.